Exploring Lake Gunn in Fiordland
Located along the Te Anau Milford Highway in Fiordland, Lake Gunn is the largest of several small post-glacial lakes as you approach the Divide. Nearby, you will also spot Lake Fergus and even smaller Lake Lochie. While the surrounding beech forest and shrubs limit views from the car, there are both formal and informal roadside access points and viewpoints that provide glimpses of these beautiful lakes.
Accessing the lakes
The best access points to Lake Gunn are the Lake Gunn Nature Walk and the Cascade Creek DOC campground. From the car parks, you can take short walks through a beautiful beech rainforest to the south end of the lake.
Otherwise, there are obvious places wide enough to park a car at each of the lakes. Keep your speed down so you don’t miss them. These stops provide clear views of the lakes, with striking reflections of the surrounding forested slopes when conditions are calm. Early morning is best, as completely still and cloudless days are rare.
How to Get There
To reach Lake Gunn, travel along State Highway 94, the Te Anau Milford Highway, from Te Anau towards The Divide. The drive takes 1 hour and is 75 km.
Along the way, stop at the Mirror Lakes, then take a walk into the stunning golden grass of the Eglinton Valley. From Lake Gunn, it's a short drive to The Divide and a walk to Key Summit on the Routeburn. Here, the road turns west and ascends into the mountains, past Lower Hollyford Road, and leading to the impressive 400-metre climb to Homer Tunnel. It then continues onto Milford Sound.
